[Despite himself, a big smile slides across his face. He lets his eyes wander over Luke's face for a moment before he laughs a little. The idea of having him right here before him is still hard to accept after having waited for so long. But they've spent enough time together for him to know this was the real deal.]
Yeah. I did. [He pushes together the remains of his dinner with his fork.] ... all of us missed you, you know.
[Luke looks down at his bento. He wonders how long it's been since Guy saw him. Months? ...Years? It's a little scary to think about. But Guy looks so happy now. He's determined not to leave him again, even if it's out of his hands.]
...Sorry. I wish I could see the others, too. [He misses them all but he wonders how much they've changed. Everything sounds so different. It sounds nicer, too, but is there really a place for him?
Well, it doesn't matter. Luke looks back up.] But you're the one who's here. Ha... I can finally pay you back for all that support.
[He can't help frowning a little bit. It isn't that he would deny Guy a request; rather it's the opposite. He can't turn him down, especially if it's on the topic of paying him back, and he worries what Guy might ask might be impossible. Sometimes that happens. All he can think about is the angry Guy telling him not to go to the Tower of Rem.
But they aren't back home. In theory, there shouldn't be anything impossible for him here. Luke breathes out and smiles.]
All right, what is it? Don't keep me in suspense like this.
[There's no doubt that, if Guy asked for something unreasonable, Luke would still try to fulfill it. He's a deviance who still chose to carry the world that rejected him, no matter what regrets he had. They don't talk about Akzeriuth anymore, but they've all heard him crying at night when he thought everyone had fallen asleep. The world and its Score were burden enough: there was no need to add more to Luke's shoulders when he already believed he was far, far from repentance.
With every fiber of his being, Guy hates it. He hates how Luke had to struggle to find personhood. He hates how Luke has to fulfill his role as scion while being treated as a mistake. And he hates how, if the safety of their imperfect world was promised, Luke would toss down his life in a heartbeat.
But it was Luke who taught him to feel something beyond hate again. To see the good in a world he used to curse. It's something he fights to keep. If he loses that small hope--
So he opts for something selfish, because he knows Luke wouldn't make that choice for himself:]
Stay alive. [Simple. Direct.] No matter what happens, we're going to go home together.
['Stay alive'. Zelos asked him it, too, and it was different hearing it from a stranger. Nice and annoying all at once. Zelos didn't know everything in Luke's past, why his life was so worthless. Guy was the one who told him to live his life making the world happy. It was an impossible task but if he put that much effort into it, constantly, than his life had some purpose. His existence wasn't wasted.
But Guy was asking him for a different reason. 'Luke' didn't come back from something. They all missed him. It was still hard to believe that they would miss him so much. He knew he mattered, in a distant way, but... to matter so much...?
To matter enough to live.]
...I... I, uhm...
[Is it okay to admit though? To admit that when he thinks about dying, he's terrified? That the idea of not going home again scares him just as much? He puts down his fork and his hands go on his thighs, gripping the fabric of his pants.]
...Can I really go home with you? Is it okay? Guy, my life... it's never going to be worth anything but even knowing that, I... I think I want to stay alive. I still don't even know if that's all right. If it comes down to it, shouldn't I sacrifice myself? I thought I was certain on it. Now, I...
[Guy shakes his head. Pushes himself to his knees, so he can reach across the table and grip his shoulder. He speaks softly. Gently.]
It wouldn't be home without you.
[Without them realizing it, Luke had become part of their world. Him being the Scion of Lorelei or a replica mattered little. What mattered, in the end, was that Luke had changed all of them. What mattered was that Luke was Guy's best, most important friend.
Didn't that grant his life enough worth?]
You don't need a reason to exist, Luke. You were born just like everyone else. You deserve to live because you're alive.
[Luke wants to look away but he can't. He meets Guy's gaze and doesn't break it, refuses to break it. Guy's told him this so many times by this point and if he survived somehow back home past reaching the tower, he can only imagine how many more times Guy had to tell him it was okay. He didn't know how to accept it, if he ever could accept it, but he needs to.
No, more than that, he wants to. Deep down, he's scared. He doesn't want to die. He doesn't want to leave his friends behind and fade away. Seeing it happen to Ion haunts him still; going through it would be terrible. Just watching himself die, feeling himself leaving...
Without realising it, tears start to build up in his eyes. One hand reaches up to grip the hand on his shoulder. Proof that he's here, proof that Guy is with him to the end.]
...I'm going to try, all right? [His voice sounds so soft like it might vanish but he tries to strengthen it.] We're going to make it home together somehow, right Guy? And... I'll make it home to everyone.
[It's a promise neither of them can guarantee. But it's one they can make, to ease the pressure of the unclear future they had. Guy doesn't let go, but he does smile. It's a gentle and warm expression, without judgement.]
It's okay to cry in front of me, Luke. I've seen you make that face many times.
[Luke reaches up with his free hand to rub at his eyes. Was he seriously crying over something like this? Ugh. The last thing either of them need right now is him crying over anything.]
It's embarrassing to think how many times you've seen me cry.
[Guy can't help but sound proud. They've always managed to stick together, through thick and thin. It didn't matter if he has to wait another two years or more. Stubborn loyalty and devotion dictated that they'll find each other again, no matter how long it'd take.
He lets go.]
Let's make the most of your time here. There's still a lot I should fill you in on.
[Luke pauses and starts patting his pockets. No, he doesn't really have anything. He can't give up his sword. Will his coat even fit? A look of frustration passes over his features as he looks over Guy, then he grins, an idea striking him.
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Yeah. I did. [He pushes together the remains of his dinner with his fork.] ... all of us missed you, you know.
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...Sorry. I wish I could see the others, too. [He misses them all but he wonders how much they've changed. Everything sounds so different. It sounds nicer, too, but is there really a place for him?
Well, it doesn't matter. Luke looks back up.] But you're the one who's here. Ha... I can finally pay you back for all that support.
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... ha ha, you don't have to worry about something so trivial. I'm your best friend. What else am I supposed to do?
[It's like Luke, though. He's always insisting on paying for something he doesn't have to, even if it's at a cost to himself. He puts down his fork.]
But if you really insist, I've got one request for you.
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But they aren't back home. In theory, there shouldn't be anything impossible for him here. Luke breathes out and smiles.]
All right, what is it? Don't keep me in suspense like this.
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With every fiber of his being, Guy hates it. He hates how Luke had to struggle to find personhood. He hates how Luke has to fulfill his role as scion while being treated as a mistake. And he hates how, if the safety of their imperfect world was promised, Luke would toss down his life in a heartbeat.
But it was Luke who taught him to feel something beyond hate again. To see the good in a world he used to curse. It's something he fights to keep. If he loses that small hope--
So he opts for something selfish, because he knows Luke wouldn't make that choice for himself:]
Stay alive. [Simple. Direct.] No matter what happens, we're going to go home together.
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But Guy was asking him for a different reason. 'Luke' didn't come back from something. They all missed him. It was still hard to believe that they would miss him so much. He knew he mattered, in a distant way, but... to matter so much...?
To matter enough to live.]
...I... I, uhm...
[Is it okay to admit though? To admit that when he thinks about dying, he's terrified? That the idea of not going home again scares him just as much? He puts down his fork and his hands go on his thighs, gripping the fabric of his pants.]
...Can I really go home with you? Is it okay? Guy, my life... it's never going to be worth anything but even knowing that, I... I think I want to stay alive. I still don't even know if that's all right. If it comes down to it, shouldn't I sacrifice myself? I thought I was certain on it. Now, I...
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It wouldn't be home without you.
[Without them realizing it, Luke had become part of their world. Him being the Scion of Lorelei or a replica mattered little. What mattered, in the end, was that Luke had changed all of them. What mattered was that Luke was Guy's best, most important friend.
Didn't that grant his life enough worth?]
You don't need a reason to exist, Luke. You were born just like everyone else. You deserve to live because you're alive.
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No, more than that, he wants to. Deep down, he's scared. He doesn't want to die. He doesn't want to leave his friends behind and fade away. Seeing it happen to Ion haunts him still; going through it would be terrible. Just watching himself die, feeling himself leaving...
Without realising it, tears start to build up in his eyes. One hand reaches up to grip the hand on his shoulder. Proof that he's here, proof that Guy is with him to the end.]
...I'm going to try, all right? [His voice sounds so soft like it might vanish but he tries to strengthen it.] We're going to make it home together somehow, right Guy? And... I'll make it home to everyone.
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[It's a promise neither of them can guarantee. But it's one they can make, to ease the pressure of the unclear future they had. Guy doesn't let go, but he does smile. It's a gentle and warm expression, without judgement.]
It's okay to cry in front of me, Luke. I've seen you make that face many times.
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It's embarrassing to think how many times you've seen me cry.
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You've been stuck with me since day one! Even if I don't remember it, you're going to be stuck with me forever.
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[Guy can't help but sound proud. They've always managed to stick together, through thick and thin. It didn't matter if he has to wait another two years or more. Stubborn loyalty and devotion dictated that they'll find each other again, no matter how long it'd take.
He lets go.]
Let's make the most of your time here. There's still a lot I should fill you in on.
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[Luke pauses and starts patting his pockets. No, he doesn't really have anything. He can't give up his sword. Will his coat even fit? A look of frustration passes over his features as he looks over Guy, then he grins, an idea striking him.
Luke takes off his gloves and holds them out.]
Here. In case you get lonely.
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... you think they'll fit me?